In Germany, 70% doctors can now prescribe reimbursed medical cannabis

The German Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has announced major changes to the prescription of medical cannabis in Germany, continuing the’ major evolution of the country in the regulation of cannabis.

These changes should greatly benefit healthcare professionals and patients alike by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and facilitating access to medical cannabis. The new regulations, if not contested by the Federal Ministry of Health, will come into force after publication in the Official Journal.

Streamlining the prescription process

Until now, obtaining medical cannabis in Germany has required a initial approval from the insurance company patient's statutory health insurance, which covers around 90% of the population. This procedure often delayed access to treatment.

In accordance with new rules, 16 medical specialties and five additional qualifications are now exempt from this prior authorization requirement. This change will enable many doctors to prescribe directly. medical cannabis, and thus improve the efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services.

Impact on medical specialties

The following specialties are now authorized to prescribe medical cannabis without prior authorization from the health insurance scheme:

• General medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Gynecology and obstetrics (with a focus on gynecological oncology)
• Internal medicine
• Internal medicine and angiology
• Internal medicine, endocrinology and diabetology
• Internal medicine and gastroenterology
• Internal medicine, hematology and oncology
• Internal medicine and infectious diseases
• Internal medicine and cardiology
• Internal medicine and nephrology
• Internal medicine and pneumology
• Internal medicine and rheumatology
• Internal medicine and rheumatology
• Physical and rehabilitation medicine
• Psychiatry and psychotherapy

In addition, doctors with the following qualifications can also prescribe drugs without insurance approval:

• Geriatrics
• Drug therapy for tumors
• Palliative medicine
• Sleep medicine
• Specialized pain management

These adjustments mean that more than 70% of doctors practicing in Germany will be able to prescribe reimbursed medical cannabis directly, significantly widening access for patients.

Reducing bureaucratic obstacles

Josef Hecken, President of the G-BA, underlined the balance achieved by the new regulations, saying: «The bureaucratic effort is considerably reduced without sacrificing patient safety».

This sentiment is shared by many members of the medical community who have long been advocating rationalization processes.

The German medical cannabis market has already seen significant growth, particularly after the partial legalization of cannabis and the removal of cannabis from the narcotics list on April 1. This change has removed major bureaucratic hurdles, which has led to a significant strong growth in the private medical cannabis market, which some estimate to have risen from 80% to 100% since last year.

Despite this growth, the number of patients receiving reimbursement for their prescriptions under the compulsory health insurance scheme has remained relatively stable. The new G-BA regulations should change this balance and make reimbursed prescriptions more commonplace.

These regulatory changes are a positive development for patients, particularly those who cannot afford private prescriptions. The new system aims to reduce waiting times and boost confidence in healthcare providers by simplifying the prescription process.

The G-BA resolution is subject to a two-month review period by the Federal Ministry of Health. As a rule, these resolutions are not objected to, due to the composition of the G-BA, which includes medical experts and stakeholders. If unchallenged, the resolution will be published in the Official Gazette, thus officially becoming law.